Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Charles W. Niehaus, SJ, who died on January 10, 2021, at Colombiere Center Jesuit Community in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 75 years old. May he rest in peace. Christ was the center of Chuck’s life and the motivation for all his thoughts and actions. He saw Christ in the Hispanic people with whom he lived and worked. He was prayerful, generous, and devoted to his friends (i.e. everyone he met). Chuck loved his parishioners and could be obstinate when helping them; he would not “give up” until he had accomplished his goal. “Fr. Carlos” was much loved by the people of St. Procopius. They appreciated how hard he worked for them and easily saw how his love was expressed in his tireless work for them. Click the title link or picture for complete story.

To mark the 149th  anniversary of the Great Fire of 1871, WTTW premiered THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE, a one-hour Chicago Series special to tell the dramatic story of this defining and prescient moment in Chicago history–when Chicagoans faced destruction, rebuilt, and prepared the city for a thriving future.   The Church of the Holy Family and St. Ignatius College are featured among eleven buildings that survived the Fire. Holy Family’s 1871 parishioner, Catherine O’Leary, is prominently portrayed in the production.   THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE, a Chicago Stories special, brings to life this seismic event, with vivid animations, elaborate re-creations, and interviews with descendants of eye witnesses and noted historians, including Ellen Skerrett, who has researched and written about Holy Family and St. Ignatius College for decades. The film and companion website will provide inspiration and a reminder that Chicago can face adversity and become stronger–a lesson we can learn from our past, as we look to our future. Please click on the picture or title link to visit the companion site featuring 11 buildings that have survived the Fire.

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps® (IVC) connects prospective volunteers with not-for-partners throughout the city of Chicago and its suburbs. They are part of a national organization with over 600 volunteers in 20 regions. Chicago is the largest region with 60 members serving over 30 different organizations including Kolbe House, Cristo Rey schools, Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity and Howard Area Community Center among others.   While members continue to live with their families, IVC supports them with monthly meetings providing speakers, community discussion, and Mass.  In addition, each volunteer meets with a spiritual reflector once/month to provide a companion on the journey of service and finding God in all things.  Each year the community participates in a two-day retreat.   As IVC begins their service year in September, we keep all members (both volunteers and staff) in our prayers for a successful year ahead.  To learn more about IVC in the Chicagoland area, contact Jacqueline Fitzgerald via email at jfitzgerald@ivcusa.org and click on the title link or picture. 

Governor JB Pritzker’s extension of the mandatory stay-at-home order through May 30, while difficult, is a necessary step in protecting the common good and wellbeing of all in Illinois.  Yet, we share the aspirations of many that we will soon be able to gather for worship and parish life...Please click the title link or picture to see the entire letter

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, mandated the suspension until further notice of all liturgical services effective Saturday evening with the regularly scheduled weekend services. Please click on the title link or picture to read the statement from the archdiocese.

After consulting with parish leaders, Fr. Peter has shared his plan for tranistioning all Sunday Masses to Notre Dame de Chicago in order to comply with Cardinal Cupich's decree. The alternating schedules of the 10am Eucharist adopted the first week of Advent 2019 will continue until Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020. Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at the Holy Family site. After mass, we will process to the Notre Dame de Chicago site with the Blessed Sacrament where our Lord will be placed in solemn repose. Good Friday and the Lord’s Passion along with the Easter Vigil will be celebrated at the Notre Dame de Chicago site. Easter Sunday There will be two (2) Eucharistic celebrations on Easter Sunday. Both will happen in the mid-morning hours: 9:00 AM at the Holy Family site and 11:00 AM at the Notre Dame de Chicago site.  There will be no evening Mass on Easter Sunday.

Historian and parishioner, Ellen Skerrett, has been featured in the latest edition of archdiocese's newspaper, Chicago Catholic. The story, by Michelle Martin, shares Ellen's journey writing the history of St. Ignatius College Prep as the school celebrates its 150th anniversary. In doing research for the book, Ellen said, "I began to see how engaged the school has been with the larger city.” To read the entire story, please click on the title link or picture.

Thanks to Holy Family's own noted historian and author, Ellen Skerrett, we have the history of St. Joseph's Mission. Please click on the title link or picture to read this chapter of Holy Family's past and the impact it has had on our future. Celebrate Black History Month!

Andrew Larry Sorcee, a parishioner of Notre Dame de Chicago, is scheduled to be ordained to the Order of Deacon on May 9, 2020 at Holy Name Cathedral by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago. This is a public announcement of the upcoming ordination and fulfills the canonical requirement. Catholics are obliged to reveal any concerns, impediments or circumstances that could prevent name of candidate from receiving Sacred Orders and should contact the pastor or the Cardinal with such information as soon as possible if there is a serious question about the candidate’s suitability for ordained ministry.

The parish and friends of Holy Family wish former pastor, Fr. Mike Gabriel, a speedy recovery after surgery earlier this week. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

We had a very productive meeting earlier in the month to discuss the future of the Food Pantry Ministry at Holy Family-Notre Dame Parish. As we look to the future, and the ways that Holy Family-Notre Dame is committed to the Corporal Works of Mercy, it is clear that feeding our brothers and sisters in need continues to be a priority. The Food Pantry will move to the Notre Dame de Chicago site. Collaboration will happen with the Franciscan Outreach Ministry and we will continue to look for ways to grow in our service to the community. We need your help in order to make this happen! If you are interested in volunteering with the Food Pantry ministry, please contact Victoria (vdbusiness@gmail.com) or Chef Dan (dkopanke@hotmail.com).

Where are we at in the Renew My Church process right now? Right now, we are in the Operations Transition phase of RMC (and we will be through June). We are creating a foundation, both with resources and a long-term vision, to support vitality in our newly united parish. We are analyzing how our financial structures are set up, what our facilities are being used for, and how our staff and volunteer time is focused. Our goal is to ensure that all our resources are working towards evangelization, to bringing people to Jesus. The way that the communities from both the Holy Family site and the Notre Dame site came together to pray during Advent and Christmas reveals the hospitality and evangelization that we want all our resources to continue to work towards. Do you have Renew My Church or operational questions? Feel free to send me an email! spelrine@archchicago.org.

Please help to add to the beauty of both worship sites by making a donation toward flowers for Christmas. Donations may be made in memory of a loved one by simply adding the name to the envelope containing the donation. Envelopes may be found in the back of each church.

Parishioners and friends of HF/ND will find the annual Giving Tree in the back of both worship sites. This year, we are asking for donations of new or gently used winter clothing items (coats, hats, scarves, sweaters, gloves and socks). Simply choose an ornament from one of the trees and return the unwrapped clothing to one of the designated bins at either worship site by Christmas Day.

For many years, the Children’s Christmas Party at Holy Family has offered a fun holiday experience for local children and their families and provided toys at Christmastime to children who might otherwise have gone without. This year, the event will be held for the first time in the Notre Dame Lower Hall on Saturday, December 21st from 10AM to 1PM. We have learned that one of our main donors of toys is not able to provide us with donations this year. To ensure that we have enough toys to distribute to every child who attends the Party, we are asking the parish community for donations of new children’s toys for ages 0 to 10 years old. The toys do not need to be gift wrapped and can be placed in designated donation bins at both worship sites on Sunday, December 8th and Sunday, December 15th. In order to sort the toys and prepare them for distribution at the Party, we are asking for donations to come in by Sunday, December 15th. Thank you for any help you can give to bring Christmas joy and magic to children in our community!

The word “Hospitality” means "the warm and generous reception of others.” Hospitality is an occasion of welcome and community. Hospitality seeks to build up the Body of Christ through sharing in fellowship together. Starting Sunday, December 1st, as we enter the Season of Advent and this time of coming together in prayer and community at both worship sites, parishioners from both worship sites are invited and encouraged to serve as Greeters and Ushers before and during 10AM Mass and/or as Servers at after Mass Receptions throughout the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Please prayerfully consider being part of these efforts to extend hospitality during these Holy Seasons, on whichever Sundays and in whatever ways that you are able. As St. Paul wrote, every member of the Body of Christ has something essential to contribute. If you are able to serve in one or more of these Hospitality roles, please contact Jim Bruton at Jim@holyfamilychicago.org.

During Advent & Christmas season, the 9:45 AM liturgy at the Holy Family and the 10:00 AM liturgy at the Notre Dame de Chicago will come together for ONE 10:00 AM Sunday Mass. The combined 10:00 AM Mass will be held at Holy Family on December 1, 15, 29, and January 12, and at Notre Dame de Chicago on December 8, 22, January 5, and 19. All other Masses will be held at the regularly scheduled times. The combined liturgy will provide parishioners the opportunity to come together with Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist. Transportation will be provided.

Fr. Peter is asking for volunteers to help prepare for Sunday liturgies. The three (3) committees are Communication, Hospitality, and Art/Environment & Music. Each will have specific tasks and responsibilities to ensure that our Sunday celebration our joyous and that the needs of our parishioners respectfully attended to. Kindly sign up for one of the subcommittees below by reaching out to: Communication: Mark Valentino (mark@gazettechicago.org); Hospitality: Jim Bruton (jim@holyfamilychicago.org); Art/Environment & Music: Fran Lamonica (frances.m.lamonica@gmail.com)

Holy Family/Notre Dame de Chicago parish is happy to welcome Sarah Pelrine as the newly appointed Operations Director for the parish. Before coming to HF/ND, Sarah worked in the same position at Mary, Mother of Mercy in West Lawn. She sees the Operations Director as the person who works to ensure that the resources of the parish are used wisely. Sarah is recently married and lives in Chicago. Both her undergraduate and graduate studies were done at the University of Notre Dame. Welcome Sarah and good luck in your new position.

Cardinal Cupich has approved new guidelines designed to assist parishioners and parish staff in the preparation of Masses of Christian Burial. In his Chicago Catholic column, the Cardinal stated, "I am intentionally issuing these guidelines on All Souls' Day, Nov. 2, the day we set aside exclusively to pray for the dead. As such, it serves as a point of reference for all of our rites of Christian burial." Please click on the title link or picture to see the new guidelines.